FAYETTE, Iowa - Upper Iowa head men's soccer coach Jeancy Matumona-Bau has announced the hiring of Lane Kerby as the team's graduate assistant coach. Lane comes to Upper Iowa after playing and serving as a player-assistant coach at the University of Northwestern Ohio.
"I look forward to having Lane bring in his leadership and guidance to the players," Matumona-Bau said. "Having played goalkeeper himself, he brings valuable knowledge that will help develop our keepers and backline. He's very respectful and understanding of the game. After serving as a player assistant last year, he understands the importance of relating to the players and helping them achieve their goals while playing soccer in college."
Kerby spent three years at Northwestern Ohio as a goalkeeper and served as a coach for his final year. The Racers went 13-5-2 in 2025 with Kerby on the staff. He graduated from Northwestern Ohio with a bachelor's degree in sports marketing and management.
"Coaching here at Upper Iowa was truly an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Kerby said. "Being able to further my education in sports administration while simultaneously gaining valuable coaching experience is exactly what I was looking for. Head Coach Jeancy and all the staff on campus were so welcoming and supportive of my decision to come here. I also grew up in a small town roughly the same size as Fayette, so I felt like this was a perfect fit for me."
The Lewisburg, Ohio native is hopeful to provide the same type of guidance and mentorship that helped shape him during his athletic career.
"I wanted to get into coaching because I have always had a strong passion for helping student-athletes become the best version of themselves," Kerby said. "This doesn't just apply to the pitch, as I want to help them succeed in the classroom and in their careers after school. Some of my most important life lessons have been taught to me by my previous coaches. I want to share my knowledge and experiences with athletes to have that same impact on them."
The Peacocks start the season with a scrimmage on Aug. 15 against Waldorf in Harms-Eischeid Stadium. The regular season begins on Aug. 27 against Roosevelt (Ill.) with the first GLVC contest against Missouri S&T on Sept. 4.
"I'm excited to see what this team can do in the GLVC," Kerby said. "This is such a competitive conference where every game counts. We have a large group of talented players that I believe can compete with anyone on any given day."
